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Feb 21, 2021 first sketch before really studying technique.

What an incredible first sketch, Katherine. It’s a beauty!

This is really looking spherical! but I’m getting an outline. Observe and think about the shadow directly under the tomato. I call it the “sit down shadow” It shouldn’t come up the side so far and should sort of “puddle” slightly under the tomato.

Good point, thank you Katy.

Hi Katherine, I don’t know if you’re ready to try watercolour yet – but why not!? It’ll take away the texture and dots of paper so that you can communicate a smooth surface of your subject.

Hi Katherine! I heard you say yesterday on the webinar that you are one month in to botanical art. That was me in August! I remember my first webinar and being stunned at the art people were creating. And inspired! You are doing great! This community has been very supportive of my learning process. I was such a non-artist I didn’t even understand…[Read more]

You’re doing great, Katherine! I love the colour here.

This was drawn from real leaves, still having trouble with my shadowing. It was a quick sketch and i need to put more time in to it.

Hi Katherine, You have a very interesting style. I find your drawings very pleasing. Especially this one. Rather restful. I like the simple bold shapes. And gentle colors. Also beautiful line work on the fringing under the cap and at the bottom of the stem. Very nice.

Thank you Katy for your feedback.

Great sketch. Leaves are tricky and always take longer than we think. Remember to still think of your highlights and shaded sides. Did you emboss? You can always go back in and tone down some of the embossing in some places with watercolour so the embossing. lines don’t steal the show.

Watercolor on sliced plum got away from me.

Hi Katherine, such a cheery drawing! I want to see some more darks. A cast shadow on the apple under those right hand leaves would make a nice separation. Be careful not to have a white line between the apples and the leaves.

So appreciate the feedback.

This is my tomato today Mar 21 and everything else in my portfolio is from the last month, starting with the lemon which was my first attempt. I see improvement but have a long way to go.

I really like this tomato, Katherine. Your drawings have a lovely quality, as Katy mentioned. So happy to see your drawings posted for us here. Keep up the good work and be kind to yourself!

The sliced pear is really beautiful! It has that style you have that I love. However somehow you seem to have lost the shape and coloration of the pear on the left. It is mostly working until you get to what I think is the cast shadow of the other pear. You still need to indicate the shapes in the shadow. And the color suggests the pear is maybe a…[Read more]

I definately am working on toning, my number one priority. And excellent point about the shape of the pear.

That cut pear is a delight! Yes, we have to remember to work on communicating the form and volume before we get all excited about the descriptive colours and details.

Great study, Katherine. I can see your understanding of the highlight and shadow side.

Nice, Katherine. Some watercolour would smooth out the pencil lines to show the smooth skin of the fruit if you are interested! Or, just keep saturating the reds. Looks like you used some red violet – that color can really be a great tool when doing the grisaille toning in red forms.

This is my very first time to draw a tulip. So, I would like lots of suggestions to make my future tulip drawings better.

I think it is really beautiful!!

This is so beautiful!

I think they are so beautiful too, Machi!

Good practice, Melanie. Keep aiming to show a range of the full 9 values in your practicing.

Thanks, Sam! Definitely a challenge for me!

Tried to improve the crazy leaves but will need to start a new one too. Just didn’t want to leave it looking too much like a medusa!

Thanks very much for your comments on this during the webinar, Vern and Wendy! I will try to further work the flowers and bring some mid-tones. Apologies for having arrived so late. I am based in the UK and hadn’t realised that you had moved back the clocks in the US! I watched the recording and found the comments really helpful.

Tried to improve the leaves but the top right one is beyond help because I embossed it. I will start all over again 🙂

It’s hard to see the detail in this photo, but you can always tone down embossing wth watercolour. Your drawings are really lovely, Renata. They have a style that really stands out.

Thanks very much for the encouragement, Sam! Much appreciated. I have now also put some darker shades in the flowers as per Vern’s and Wendy’s suggestion, and it gave the drawing more depth.